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One can't turn a blind eye to it!
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As a single largest provider of eye surgeries in the world, the core principle of the Aravind system relies on equity - to provide services to the rich and the poor alike, and at the same time to be financially self-supporting.
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Are you in earnest?
Seize this very minute;
What you can do, or dream,
you begin it;
Boldness hath genius, power,
and magic in it,
Only engage, and then the
mind grows heated.
Begin; and then the work
will be completed.
- Gothe.
ONE OF those who translated Gothe's words into action is Dr.G. Venkataswamy. When many considered running a hospital as a lucrative option, Dr. V, as he is affectionately called, viewed it in a different perspective. For this retired bachelor, service to society is paramount.
His aim to eradicate blindness gave birth to the GOVEL Trust and led him to set up the Aravind Eye Hospitals in1976.
The hospital has a history to boast of. From an 11-bed hospital, it has grown in terms of stature and technical expertise to become a 3,600-bed hospital, having links with more than 150 hospitals across the globe, including those in America and in the West.
"I drew my inspiration from the legacy of our great forefathers. The magnificent temples built all over India have always fascinated me. I have always been intrigued by the accomplishment of our ancestors; achieved without modern tools like cranes and earthmovers. Besides there were inspirational leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Sri Aurobindo, whose philosophy and way of life have influenced a many. Naturally, I felt impelled to give something back to this great land of ours," Dr.V says.
"Through a judicious blend of appropriate modern technology, cost-effective methods, state-of-the-art management practices, compassion, spirituality and sense of purpose, the Aravind has shown to the world that reduction of blindness incidence is possible," says Dr. Namperumalsamy, Director, Aravind Eye Care System.
Having overcome all hurdles, the Aravind conglomerate now consists of the base hospital in Madurai, satellite hospitals in Theni, Tirunelveli, Coimbatore and Pondicherry, an IOL (intraocular lens) and other ocular products manufacturing facility (Aurolab), a centre for preventing nutritional blindness in children (Aravind Centre for Women, Children and Community Health), the Lions Aravind Institute of Community Ophthalmology, which focusses on promoting eye care services through teaching, training, research and consultancy, Aravind Medical Research Foundation and the Rotary Aravind International Eye Bank.
"The current service delivery is around 1.3 million outpatient visits, nearly 2 lakh surgeries (single largest provider of eye surgeries in the world) and over 1600 screening eye camps (annual). The remarkable aspect is that more than 70 per cent of surgeries are earmarked for poor patients, offering them eye treatment either subsidised or free of cost," avers Dr.Aravind Srinivasan, Administrator, Aravind Eye Hospitals, Madurai.
"The backlog (of curably blind people) is mindboggling. Yet, only one-third of the 10,000 ophthalmologists in the country are actively involved in community cataract surgeries," says Dr. Venkataswamy.
The Aravind does believe in dissemination of knowledge. Considering the growing need for qualified ophthalmologists, it started postgraduate courses, teaching and training doctors to better their diagnostic and surgical skills. Ophthalmic students from countries like the US have now turned their attention to the Aravind Eye Hospitals for a brief stint here to gain experience. Today, it has become a cradle for many other ophthalmologists.
The Aravind added another feather to its cap when the World Health Organisation designated the hospital as a collaborating centre for prevention of blindness. The project of the International Agency for Prevention of Blindness "Vision 2020-The Right to Sight" provided opportunities for the Aravind Eye Hospitals to work in South East Asia and Africa.
The core principle of the Aravind system relies on equity - to provide services to the rich and the poor alike, and at the same time to be financially self-supporting. With an emphasis on maximum utilisation of resources, the Aravind Eye Hospitals accounts for five per cent of the ophthalmic surgeries performed nationwide with less than one per cent of the country's ophthalmic power.
More than 80 per cent of the cases reported for treatment in the hospital are either simple or cases with cataract problems. The remaining 20 per cent require serious attention and for which the Aravind has established speciality clinics all under one roof.
As predicted by the World Health Organisation, with the changing lifestyles, the number of cases reported for the retinal disorders due to diabetes will be more than 57 million in the year 2025. Judging the enormity of the situation, the Aravind established the retina-vitreous centre to offer treatment in diabetic retinopathy, as India with its population will be more prone to retinal disorders due to diabetes.
Dr.Namperumalsamy established the Retina-Vitreous Centre at Aravind, Madurai. The vitreo retinal surgery was introduced for the first time in the country at the Aravind.
The centre is one of the few accredited by the National Board of Examinations to award a fellowship in retina.
The hospital also has an eye bank, funded by the Rotary District RI-3000. The Rotary Aravind International Eye Bank is one of the four eye banks in the country affiliated to the International Federation of Eye Banks, which stipulates stringent standards of quality for corneas used in transplants.
In the field of instruments maintenance, this hospital has set up a laboratory, first of its kind in the country. It has become such an instant hit that countries such as Nigeria, Kenya, Malawi have gained from the Aravind's expertise in this field.
By establishing the Aurolab in 1991, the Aravind has proved its mandate to provide quality eye care at affordable cost.
"We are really proud to say that we are self-reliant and self-sufficient. We never went for any donations. If we are able to withstand all financial pressures, it is because all revenue generated is ploughed back into the system," says Dr.G.Natchiar, Joint Director, Aravind Eye Hospital.
"Our success lies in our community outreach programmes. We reach out to the poor, never expecting financial returns. What we get in turn is an overwhelming response from the public and there lies our secret of success," says Dr.V.
From the optimum utilisation of manpower to instruments maintenance, from community outreach programmes to research projects, the Aravind's growth is quite phenomenal.
Now its Aravind's system has become a role model for many hospitals and subject of study in many business schools. Even now, the Aravind's pursuit continues exploring new vistas in eye care.
T. SARAVANAN
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